CLIMATE CHANGE
The poles are melting and the sea level is rising. Meanwhile, desert land is gaining space all over the earth. These are two of the extreme consequences of global warming; one of the major problems and challenges faced by humanity. On top of this, it is the more economically beleaguered and less contaminating countries that are suffering the greatest consequences of climate change.
The temperature of the earth has risen by 0.74 degrees in the last century, and it will continue to do so by 0.2 degrees every decade. In the Arctic temperatures have risen twice the global average. Progressive warming of the earth is causing cracks to appear in the ice sheet. NASA has detected an enormous hole measuring more than a kilometre and a half in the North Pole.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (a body formed by 3,000 scientists which has the task, every five years, of writing a report on climate change) predicts that the sea level could rise by as much as four metres by the end of the century. This would mean the disappearance under water of countries like Bangladesh and the Netherlands, and of cities like London, New York and Tokyo.
At the other extreme we have desertification. This phenomenon already affects 41% of the earth’s surface according to the UN, meaning somewhere between 100 and 200 million people the world over. If global policies aren’t launched to fight this, in coming years a third of the human population may no longer be able to obtain food, water and other services necessary to survive.
Nowhere in the world escapes the phenomenon. Desertification is taking place in Europe and in many self-proclaimed developed countries, although it particularly affects the more impoverished countries. In Africa enormous masses of population move towards the north of the continent, away from desertification and other problems. The UN calculates that desertification will push 50 million people to leave home in search of better living conditions.
According to UN studies, global warming is irreversible and the result of human action. Human activity (the burning of fuel, deforestation, changes in land use, traffic, etc.) all increases the emission of greenhouse gases causing the earth to grow warmer. Although rejected by most of the scientific community, the “cosmoclimatology” theory sustains that global warming is the natural process of solar cycles. According to studies, solar cycles are mathematical and we are heading towards a small glaciation. Solar cycle 24 will start in 2012 and reach its glaciation peak around 2080.
A study on climate change (carried out in 2007 on request by the Government) made by Spanish experts forecasts that the coast of the Bay of Biscay will become Mediterranean and that the sea will “eat” part of the beaches. The south of the Iberian Peninsula will turn into a desert. Animal and vegetable species will disappear. We will develop new diseases related to contamination and sub-tropical climates. In a word, we’re going to “Africanize”.
But neither can we forget a problem somewhat pushed to the background in recent times: deterioration of the ozone layer. This layer protects us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It acts as a filter for radiations harmful to our health; radiations responsible for accelerating skin cancer among others.
In 1997, the industrialised country signatories of the Kyoto Protocol agreed to reduce contaminating emissions by an average of 5% between 2008 and 2012, taking 1990 levels as a reference. It seems impossible that the international community will fulfil the Kyoto agreements.
A Climate Summit took place in Bali in 2007. Although no firm commitment was adopted, the bases were established for a new anti-warming agreement. This is the road map for creation of the treaty to replace its Kyoto counterpart as from 2013. Under this agreement, compensation will be paid to the more impoverished countries if they prevent deforestation and “developing” countries (including China, Brazil, India and Indonesia) will limit their greenhouse gas emissions, while the USA (the country that causes most contamination and which refused to sign the Kyoto protocol) has shown its willingness to reduce emissions.
Nearer home, San Sebastian City Council, with its Plan of Action Against Climate Change, has set the target of reducing CO2 emissions by 213,321 tons in the period 2008-2013, the five years for which the Plan will run, meaning a mitigation of 35,553 tons a year. Promoting public transport, creating pedestrian-only areas in the centre or fostering recycling, composting and renewable energies are some of the steps with which it will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The key is to develop non-contaminating, renewable energies. Traffic is one of the black spots. Around a fifth of total EU greenhouse emissions comes from transport and, of these, 90% comes from road traffic. Europe wants to set the pace in the fight against climate change. To do this, the European Commission and Parliament have set binding community limits such as an average reduction in new car emissions to 120 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre as from 2012.
Giza Eskubideen Aldarrikapena
http://www.unhchr.ch/udhr/lang/bsq.htm
Euskadiko GGKEen Koordinakundea
http://www.ongdeuskadi.org/principal_e.asp
Informe sobre cambio climático en España realizado a petición del Presidente de Gobierno
http://www.mma.es/secciones/cambio_climatico/pdf/ad_hoc_resumen.pdf
Protocolo de Kioto
http://archivo.greenpeace.org/Clima/Prokioto.htm
Cumbre del Clima (Bali 2007)
http://www.greenpeace.org/espana/news/la-cumbre-del-clima-de-bali-se
Klimaren bilakaera – Joana Mendiburu
http://www.zientzia.net/dossierra.asp?Id=81&Dossier_kod=12&Orr=0